Dawn Kruse, Tennessee State Advisory Board Member

Born and raised in Iowa, Dawn Kruse graduated from Iowa State University with a Family Resource Management Degree and worked in banking and for a mortgage firm before becoming a full-time mom to her two kids, Maddie and Jack.  She is married to her high school sweetheart, Tedd.  They lived in Decatur, Illinois, for 16 years before moving to Tennessee in 2011 for Tedd’s job.  The family is very involved with the Ronald McDonald house in Memphis, Tennessee, and Dawn volunteers a considerable amount of time at Briarcrest Christian School, her kids’ school, chairing events and helping where needed.

 

Dawn became involved with MADD when their daughter, Maddie, was killed in a drunk driving crash in 2015 at the age of 16, by a seven-time repeat offender.  She joined the MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board in 2018 because she says, “MADD was with us from Day 1.  They made a difference and I want to make a difference in someone’s life who is suffering.”

 

In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, working out, and cooking.  She is an obsessive organizer and recently took up scrapbooking, as well.  But her favorite thing to do is spend time with her husband and son.  She may have to be spending more time in Iowa to do that in the coming years though.  She is very proud to say that Jack was recently accepted to go to Iowa State University.